Jonas Jerebko, son of former Syracuse University player, is on the fast track to the NBA

Franco Debernardi / The Associated PressJonas Jerebko of Angelico Biella goes to basket March 15 during a basketball game against Solsonica Rieti in Rome. Jerebko is a top prospect in the upcoming NBA Draft.

It's funny how a man's path in life can follow a bouncing ball. In 1981, the game of basketball led Chris Jerebko from Syracuse to Sweden.

Jerebko, a native of Buffalo, played at Syracuse University from 1977 to 1981. He counted Roosevelt Bouie, Louis Orr, Marty Headd and Danny Schayes among his teammates.

Never a star player, Jerebko's professional prospects appeared slim after his senior year. "I was working one of the summer camps after the season," Jerebko recalled. "There were some people there from a club in Sweden. They offered me a deal. I didn't have much else, so I accepted."

Jerebko signed with Boras Marbo, a club team located near Gothemburg, Sweden. He spent five seasons in Sweden. He met his wife, Elaine, and eventually decided to stay in Sweden.

"I just liked the environment here," Jerebko said in a recent telephone conversation from his home in Kinna, Sweden. "I was used to Europe after staying here."

Now, almost 30 years later, the game of basketball is leading Jerebko's son, Jonas, back to the United States.

Jerebko, 22, has spent the last two seasons playing for Angelico Biella, a professional team in Italy's 1st Division. No Swede has ever been taken in the first round of the NBA Draft, but that could change on Thursday night when the NBA holds its 2009 draft.

"I've seen him play twice," said an assistant general manager for a team in the NBA's Western Conference. "This first time, I had no idea who he was, but he played really well. Well enough that I wrote him up.

"He'll definitely get serious consideration in the draft, beginning late in the first round."

Jerebko averaged 9.2 points and 5.5 rebounds for Angelico Biella this past season. He helped the team to the semifinals of the Italian League's playoffs. The playoffs delayed his appearance at the Reebok Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy, but he made it to the camp's final day and once again impressed the NBA scouts in attendance.

While American college prospects have been working out for NBA teams for almost a month, Jerebko arrived in the United States just last week. However, interest in him is high. He has or will work out for eight NBA teams in a 12-day window leading up to the draft.

"I've heard everything from 15 through 35," Jerebko said last week after a workout in Phoenix. "I'm excited. Whatever happens, I know I'm going to get drafted."

Jerebko had never given the NBA much thought while growing up in Sweden.

He played soccer and ice hockey as well as European handball and golf.

"I encouraged him to play a lot of different sports," Chris Jerebko said.

Jonas started playing basketball at the age of 11.

"Early on, he had a knack for the game," Chris said. "He's an athlete."

The Jerebkos visited the United States often, at least every other year. Jonas began attending summer basketball camps at Syracuse and Canisius. He heard stories of his father's days at Syracuse. He met Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim and SU assistant Bernie Fine, the same men who had coached his father at Syracuse.

"I always asked questions about Syracuse and how college was," Jonas said. "He told me stories and stuff like that. I was always expecting to go to Syracuse."

The Syracuse coaches recruited Jerebko, but never really pursued him hard. West Virginia and Buffalo showed more interest.

Jonas signed a letter of intent to play for Buffalo, his dad's old hometown.

Right after signing with Buffalo, Jerebko, who had sprouted to 6-foot-8, received an invitation to play in the Under-20 European championships.

He made a big splash.

The 17-year-old received contract offers from several high-powered European teams, including Real Madrid of Spain and Treviso in Italy. He chose, instead, to sign with Plannja, the top club team in Sweden.

After two years with Plannja, Jerebko signed with Angelico Biella and moved to the Italian League. He's gained almost 30 pounds in that time, bulking up to nearly 220 pounds.

"He's a good finisher," a Western Conference scout said. "His shooting and ball-handling skills need the most work. He's a tweener. He plays like a four, but size-wise he's more like a three."

Jerebko's draft-ability is enhanced by his contract situation. He has a player's option for another year, so whichever NBA team drafts him won't have to contend with a problematic buyout.

Still, Jerebko could return to Europe next season, which also would make him attractive to teams with multiple first-round picks. The teams picking 25th to 28th in Thursday's draft -- Oklahoma City, Chicago, Memphis and Minnesota -- will be using their second or third draft selections.

Jerebko, his parents and several relatives from the Buffalo area plan on being in New York City for Thursday's draft.

For Chris Jerebko, it's a return to the United States. For his son, Jonas, it's the realization of a basketball dream.